UnitedHealth Weighs In on New Exchange Option

By

Anna Wilde Mathews and

Jon Kamp

Updated Jan. 17, 2013 6:55 p.m. ET

UnitedHealth Group Inc., the biggest U.S. insurer, became the latest of the industry's major players to signal that it was likely to focus on a limited number of markets as the federal health overhaul law's new exchanges roll out.

UnitedHealth said it expected to participate in 10 to 25 or more of the marketplaces, out of what the insurer said could be as many as 100, with each state hosting exchanges for individual plans and for small businesses. However, the insurer also said it had "absolutely no firm commitment...